Engagement Rings
Shopping for the right antique, new or vintage engagement ring can prove daunting. Whether you’re looking for that perfect Art Deco engagement ring, an antique Edwardian period engagement ring or a fashionable contemporary alternative, it’s important to choose a style that speaks to you.
Rings have long been signifiers of marriage and committed relationships. The modern diamond engagement ring can be traced back to 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria commissioned an expensive diamond ring for his betrothed. Diamond rings subsequently became extremely popular among the European aristocracy. Later, during the Victorian era, the popularity of diamond engagement rings had filtered down to the middle class, owing to the increasing accessibility — and affordability — of gold and diamonds.
Authentic antique Victorian-era engagement rings were frequently set in rose or yellow gold and they are highly collectible. Designs for Victorian engagement rings often featured repoussé work and chasing, in which patterns are hammered into the metal. Diamonds were likely to be small rose- or old-mine-cut (the ancestor of today’s cushion-cut) stones. The former are often associated with antique styles like Victorian or Georgian, as rose-cut diamonds are uncommon in modern jewelry. The diamonds were typically set in a group of five in a band or as a solitaire.
Victorian-era engagement rings also saw other gemstones accompanying diamonds. Small seed pearls and moonstones were popular. Other sentimental and romantic motifs such as hearts and stars took hold as well. When Prince Albert became engaged to Queen Victoria, he gave her a serpent ring with emerald eyes, her birthstone. This initiated a widespread craze for snake jewelry.
In 1886, esteemed American luxury firm Tiffany & Co. introduced its solitaire diamond design, which is still among the most popular styles of engagement rings. The Tiffany setting raises the stone above the band on six prongs, allowing its facets to catch the light and reflect through the stone.
French jewelry house Cartier, which pioneered the use of platinum in fine jewelry and helped define Art Deco, sought to render the diamonds in their engagement rings and other rings as brilliantly as possible. The brand’s timeless Solitaire 1895 engagement ring gave the impression of delicate lace.
Edwardian and, afterward, Art Deco engagement rings that followed in the wake of Queen Victoria’s death in 1901 would be characterized by complex geometric designs and platinum settings. Owing to the Art Nouveau movement, nature was a major theme for Edwardian jewelry, while the diamond ring designs of the Art Deco period were inspired by Cubism as well as ancient Egypt. Art Deco engagement rings are bold and colorful and feature gems cut in nontraditional ways.
Engagement rings designed during World War II were made from two-toned metals and smaller stones. Large stones were scarce, and platinum was reserved for the military. Postwar engagement rings were intended to be simpler and focused on the beauty of the diamond. In 1947, De Beers Consolidated Mines, with the support of Philadelphia ad agency N.W. Ayer & Son, introduced the slogan “A diamond is forever” in a marketing campaign that emphasized a connection between diamonds and romance. Diamond sales skyrocketed, and diamond engagement rings became intertwined with the post–World War II marriage boom, which coincided with the ascension of specific diamond cuts.
The round brilliant cut, which consists of an astounding 58 facets, continues to be the most popular cut to this day. Jewelers such as Harry Winston had already gained a reputation for his talents by the time the De Beers campaign debuted, and he is said to have favored emerald-cut diamonds.
For everything from understanding the 4Cs to choosing between antique, vintage, contemporary and custom styles, get expert tips to help you find just the right ring. See our engagement ring buying guide.
When you’re ready to mark your momentous occasion, find a vast collection of engagement rings on 1stDibs.
1920s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
2010s Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Engagement Rings
Opal, Sapphire, Fire Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s English Victorian Antique Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
2010s Engagement Rings
Diamond, Emerald
2010s French Victorian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling...
20th Century Unknown Modern Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Alexandrite, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Contemporary Engagement Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Engagement Rings
Garnet, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Sri Lankan Modern Engagement Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
1920s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Late 20th Century Belgian Modern Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Belgian Victorian Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Engagement Rings
Yellow Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Engagement Rings
Tanzanite, Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
20th Century Unknown Modern Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, 9k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings
White Diamond, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Engagement Rings
Alexandrite, Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Engagement Rings
Emerald, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Tanzanian Modern Engagement Rings
Tanzanite
2010s Indian Modern Engagement Rings
White Diamond, Black Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Edwardian Vintage Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
2010s Belgian Victorian Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Artisan Engagement Rings
Tourmaline, Morganite, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modernist Engagement Rings
Diamond, Rose Gold
1960s Vintage Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
2010s Israeli Engagement Rings
Diamond
2010s Engagement Rings
Diamond
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Oriental Pearl, White Gol...
1950s American Modernist Vintage Engagement Rings
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Israeli Engagement Rings
Diamond
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1930s Art Deco Vintage Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
2010s Italian Contemporary Engagement Rings
Brown Diamond, Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Engagement Rings
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Contemporary Engagement Rings
Ruby, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1970s French Vintage Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Romantic Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Pink Diamond, Brown Diamond, 18k...
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Garnet, Platinum
Early 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Engagement Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Diamond Stars Jewelry, Inc. engagement rings for sale on 1stDibs
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